Believe in Me (2006)

In a conservative small town, a young man's wish to coach high school basketball are tweaked by a school board decision that makes him the new coach of the girls' team.

Director:

Robert Collector

Writers:

Robert Collector (screenplay), Harold Keith (book)

Stars:

Jeffrey Donovan, Samantha Mathis, Bruce Dern

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jeffrey Donovan	...	Clay Driscoll
Samantha Mathis	...	Jean Driscoll
Bruce Dern	...	Ellis Brawley
Bob Gunton	...	Hugh Moreland
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ryil Adamson	...	Myerson
Pamela Atherton	...	Ruth Selman
Kristin Brye	...	Pat Thompson
Mike Carlucci	...	(Voice) Basketball TV Announcer
Paula Criss	...	Mrs. Blair
Camilla DeRamus	...	Mrs. Johnson
Jamie Dickerson	...	Liz Blair
Sean Dugan	...	The Heckler
Chris Ellis	...	Jim Stovall
Brandi Engel	...	Candy Brown
Chelsea Grear	...	Melba Johnson

Storyline

Girls? The thought of coaching them seems preposterous to Clay Driscoll (earnest newcomer Jeffrey Donovan), who travels to Middleton, Okla., in the 1960s prepared to coach the varsity boys' team. But that position is filled, so he's forced to coach the girls' team -- the Lady Cyclones. Faced with an under-performing crew of untrained players, the coach begins to treat the girls like boys. They run laps in a closed gym and practice shots and plays they've never tried before -- and eventually their "old-fashioned grit" leads them to a Cinderella season culminating with the state championships. Along their way, Driscoll and the girls overcome several obstacles, most of all, gaining a fan base. Meanwhile, big man in town Ellis Brawley (Bruce Dern) can't stand Driscoll and his newfangled idea of empowering female athletes. Of course, the Lady Cyclones are up to the task of proving Brawley wrong. Driven by their caring young coach, the girls determine to play as hard as the boys, even ...

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Plot Keywords:

coach | basketball | high school | small town | oklahoma | 

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Taglines:

Never let them tell you what you can't do.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 2006 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$81,569 (USA) (9 March 2007)

Gross:

$208,565 (USA) (30 March 2007)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jim Keith retired in 1986 after 35 years as a coach and social studies teacher, but still coaches part time.

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Goofs

The western Oklahoma town, Weatherford, is misspelled as "Wetherford", on a marquee.

User Reviews

A wholesome and motivating movie for viewers of all ages.

Before PCSing to Japan, my family and I were delighted to serve as extras in the shooting of this movie filmed, in part, in Clovis and Portales, New Mexico.

We were pleasantly surprised and impressed with the professionalism and yet the down to earth manner in which the cast and crew conducted themselves during the entire "shoot" in New Mexico. The character and demeanor of the entire cast and crew, off screen, is reflected in the heartwarming finished product. This is a film that we can highly recommend for all ages, as it is based upon factual events, exciting and at times riveting in its action.

We anxiously await the public release of this film.